The State Land Board on Tuesday approved continued development of the multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the Elliott State Forest, based on the draft Forest Management Plan (FMP). The Oregon Department of Forestry manages the 85,000-acre forest under contract to the Land Board.

A Habitat Conservation Plan is an agreement with the federal government to manage forestlands for threatened and endangered species while still allowing other activities such as timber harvesting to occur.

After public testimony, the Land Board approved continued development of the HCP, which takes into consideration the expiration of the marbled murrelet Incidental Take Permit and the need to provide more management flexibility. Final approval of the Forest Management Plan and HCP will be brought to the Land Board upon successful completion of negotiations with the federal government to meet the requirements of the federal Endangered Species Act.

Under the proposed FMP, harvest volume will be in the range of 40 million board feet compared to 27 million board feet under the current plan and HCP. Revenue from timber harvest on the forest is dedicated to the Common School Fund (CSF). In fiscal year 2005, the forest generated approximately $19 million, the largest source of revenue for the fund.

In other actions, the board approved the meeting’s consent agenda, which included the revised State Agency Coordination Plan, easement requests, Department of State Lands Emergency Board requests and release of mineral rights for projects in Multnomah, Tillamook and Lane County.

The State Land Board consists of Gov. Theodore Kulongoski, Sec. of State Bill Bradbury and State Treasurer Randall Edwards. The Department of State Lands administers diverse natural and fiscal resources. Many of the resources generate revenue for the Common School Fund, such as state-owned rangelands and timberlands, waterway leases, estates for which no will or heirs exist, and unclaimed property. Twice a year, the agency distributes fund investment earnings to support K-12 public schools. The agency also administers Oregon’s Removal-Fill Law, which requires people removing or filling certain amounts of material in waters of the state to obtain a permit.